Wednesday, 2 February 2011

Candlemas 2 February

Today is Candlemas another of the old Scottish Quarter days when farm contracts,leases,rents began and ended.Originally known as Imbolc in the pre-Christian calendar it was used to foretell the rest of the winter weather. It falls on the midpoint of winter half way between the shortest day and the spring equinox.Christianity adopted the day to mark the cleansing of the Virgin Mary after the birth of Jesus and the church to bless new candles for the coming year.
Good weather at Candlemas is taken to indicate severe winter weather would follow. In Scotland the emergence of snakes from the ground became Groundhogs in the United States and Canada. This aspect of Candlemas evolved into Groundhog Day. If the Groundhog could see its shadow,there will be 40 more days of winter.